Quelling Blade is a piece of carry/jungle technology in Dota 2 that can often be overlooked in the race to complete Bracers, Wands, Vanguards, and stylish footwear. But starting a Dota 2 game with a Quelling Blade on your melee carry selection can be an excellent idea for both jungle creeping and landing last hits in a lane under duress.
Quelling Growing Pains
A Quelling Blade represents a significant portion of your starting funds, but paired up with a Stout Shield and some tree eaters your carry is ready for just about anything. If you’re playing a jungle-friendly melee carry like N’aix, these items alone are enough for you to snack with impunity on the helpless denizens of the woods, ready to launch ganks from the shadows at full health and mana when opponents push the added solo lane too hard.
Heading to a lane? The opposition will definitely be interested in depriving your Anti-Mage, Faceless Void, or other melee carry of any and all kills, and will in all likelihood turn the harassment engines on full blast. The additional damage provided by Quelling Blade will go a long way when you’re dipping into enemy range to score those crucial last hits, and prevent you from becoming an easily denied tower-hugger of no consequence.
When the Quelling Blade becomes a waste of inventory space in the mid to end game, there’s no issue selling it back to the shop and replacing it with something that will clean up heroes instead of creeps.
Quirky Quelling Solutions
The Quelling Blade also provides the ability to do some lumberjack work on the trees of Dota 2’s tri-lane territory. This can be relevant by providing vision trails to important creep spawns that opposing junglers may be feasting on or providing essential extra blocks of vision where that grinning Pudge *thinks* you’re not watching him attempt to line up for a hook, line, and sinker.
If the opposing team happens to feature a Nature’s Prophet, the Quelling Blade can also be used as an interesting escape option from his timber prison, should you find yourself enveloped in pine and punishment.
Quelling Illusions
Quelling Blade may not always be the right option, even for a melee carry - but it should always be on your consideration radar. A properly used Quelling Blade will pay for itself in just a few creep waves, and place your carry in an excellent position for early game growth that will go on to dominate a Dota 2 match.
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